Chapter 287: Ten Thousand Taels

"Boss Ning, don't get me wrong. I'm just helping you." Qiao Youyou smiled while tilting her head.

"Last time when the Ministry of Revenue checked, Anju Real Estate Bank made excuses and did not provide all the account books. It just so happens that this time I... cough, this official, I will sort out the accounts for you. If Anju Real Estate Bank is really well managed and has abundant assets, this official will report it and ask the Ministry of Revenue to act as a guarantee so that you can get the loan."

Seeing that Boss Ning didn't say anything for a long time, Qiao Youyou sighed helplessly, "If that's the case, then I can't help you. I have official business to attend to, so I'll go first. You can handle your own affairs."

After saying this, he put his hands behind his back and pretended to leave.

"Sir, please stay!" Boss Ning raised his head and called out.

He Fang and He Hong were clearly at loggerheads. Although He Hong was older, He Fang's position in Tongyun Bank was not low. If He Fang was determined to disrupt the situation, he might not be able to get the loan money for a while.

The matters involved in his own account book were not something that should be known to outsiders, so he was naturally unwilling to hand it over.

But yesterday, His Royal Highness the Third Prince sent someone to ask when the 10,000 taels of silver would be available, and I promised that it would be done today. If I delay any further, I am afraid that the Third Prince will blame me.

Boss Ning weighed the pros and cons in his mind and finally made up his mind.

Well, just check her accounts! She is just a little girl, she is so young and doesn’t have much experience.

The matters involved in the account book were very secretive, and I didn't think she could see anything.

After hearing Boss Ning agree to hand over the account book for him to check, Qiao Youyou nodded and said, "Then please ask Boss Ning to deliver the account book to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow."

Boss Ning was anxious about the ten thousand taels of silver, so he naturally wanted it to be delivered as quickly as possible, so he said he would send someone to deliver it today.

"Today?" Qiao Youyou didn't even think about it. "Today is a day off. I can't do these things."

No matter how much Boss Ning tried to persuade her, Qiao Youyou refused to give in. Finally, Boss Ning could only say that he would have someone deliver the account book today and asked Qiao Youyou to review it as soon as possible during her shift tomorrow. Only then did Qiao Youyou agree.

After Qiao Youyou and the others left, He Fang glanced at He Hong with a smile, then turned and went upstairs.

He Hong sent Manager Yi away, winked at Boss Ning, and the two went to a place with fewer people to talk.

He Hong asked in a low voice: "Is there really no problem in letting that girl check the accounts?"

Boss Ning frowned, "It shouldn't be that easy to tell. Alas, it's mainly because the Third Prince is pressing me hard, so I have no other choice."

He Hong pondered for a while, "Don't blame me, you know, my uncle is timid and old-fashioned by nature, he doesn't allow us to get involved in the palace affairs, and he doesn't allow us to use our connections to make arrangements - but in this world, how can you do business without a backer?

Now that the bank has not yet come into my hands, and everyone is watching, I can only follow the rules. If it weren't for this kid He Fang messing up the situation today, the Third Prince's business would have been accomplished."

"Don't worry, Mr. He." Boss Ning said to He Hong, "Once this matter is settled, you will also be a meritorious official. I will commend you to the superiors and ask him to mention your name in front of the Third Palace."

He Hong was overjoyed, "Very good, very good. Thank you very much, Brother Ning!"

…

Qiao Youyou and Zhu Lan left Tongyun Money House. Qiao Youyou continued to deliver a plaque to the next house, while Zhu Lan returned to Yuxiang Pavilion opposite to find Chu Xin and Chu Xiuning.

"Sister Zhuangyuan, you're back?"

About half an hour had passed since Zhu Lan left. Chu Xin and Chu Xiuning had finished their conversation and were waiting for Zhu Lan.

Chu Xiuning smiled gently, "Zhu Xiuzhuan, I heard Xin'er say that you have something to ask me?"

Zhu Lan nodded. "I heard that 20 years ago, a woman dressed as a man to take the imperial examination, and then disappeared in prison. Chu Xin said that the woman was from the same hometown as you, and you seemed to know a lot about it. I was curious, so I asked you."

"You want to ask about the whereabouts of that woman, right?" Chu Xiuning's eyes lingered between Zhu Lan and Chu Xin for a moment, and he said thoughtfully, "Although this matter is a secret, many old ministers in the court know about it, but the emperor keeps silent about it. But now that I am no longer in the palace, and you have helped Xin'er, I can tell you - the woman is Concubine Lan."

"What!?" Chu Xin shouted exaggeratedly, asking why his aunt had never told him before.

"How old were you then? Why should I tell you all this?" Chu Xiuning looked at her with a smile.

Zhu Lan was a little surprised, but his reaction was not as strong as Chu Xin's.

She had previously guessed that who else except the emperor could have been able to transport people away from the Heavenly Prison without anyone noticing and without causing any trouble?

As for why Chu Xiuning knew about this... Zhu Lan remembered that Qin Yuwei had previously found out that Chu Xiuning was Concubine Lan's personal maid before becoming the head of the Shangfu Bureau, so it was reasonable for her to know the inside story.

It’s a pity that he never had the chance to meet Concubine Lan, who had passed away long ago.

Zhu Lan thought for a moment and asked again, "You used to serve Concubine Lan, and then went to the Shangfu Bureau, where you were promoted to the position of general manager. But why did you suddenly leave the palace, hide your identity in the capital, and hide in Tongyun Money House?"

"Aunt, are you in Tongyun Bank?" Chu Xin was stunned again, "Then why is Yi in charge..."

"No one in the bank knows my identity." Chu Xiuning said.

"I am an old acquaintance of He Shan, the owner of Tongyun Money House. Now he is terminally ill and his two nephews are only interested in fighting for the family property. So I resigned from my position in the palace and came out to look after him.

I used to be a member of the palace, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, I concealed my real name."

"Aunt, you will not be in the palace in the future. Can I follow you?" Chu Xin asked pitifully.

Chu Xiuning touched her face lovingly, with a look of concern, "Xin'er, Manager Yi has seen you before, does he know your identity?"

"I don't know!" Chu Xin immediately shook his head, "He always thought I was a boy."

"That's good." Chu Xiuning breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked Chu Xin to resume her daughter's attire and live with her in the He Mansion from now on.

Then he reminded her not to let others know her identity, and Chu Xin quickly promised.

Zhu Lan knew that these words were meant for him, "Don't worry, Madam Ning, I won't tell anyone about your identity."

Afterwards, the three of them had some food, and Zhu Lan mentioned to Madam Ning what had just happened in the bank.

Chu Xiuning was not surprised. "He Fang and He Hong have always been like this. As an outsider, I can't say anything."

Zhu Lan asked He Shan again whether he knew about the 10,000 taels of silver. After all, he was the real owner of Tongyun Money House, and someone should have reported such a huge loan to him.

Chu Xiuning thought for a while and shook his head slowly. "Since I left the palace, I have been with him every day. He Fang and He Hong occasionally come to visit him and tell him about some things in the bank, but they never mention this money."

Zhu Lan didn't say anything.

Just now in the bank, He Fang was the last one to come in. Judging from his reaction, it seemed that he didn't know that Anju Property Bank wanted to borrow 10,000 taels of silver from Tongyun Bank.

He Hong actually hid such a big matter from his uncle He Shan and made the decision on his own without consulting his brother He Fang. It seems that he has great ambitions.

Speaking of Anju Real Estate, Chu Xiuning suddenly remembered something and a look of worry appeared on his face.

"If I remember correctly, the real estate agency is probably related to the Third Prince."

Ask Wang Yan for a long article? Zhu Lan was slightly surprised.

Chu Xiuning had been in the palace for so many years, so she naturally had her own sources of information. If Prince Qi was really behind Anju Real Estate, then many things would make sense.

Only a force like Prince Qi could influence the way Jingzhao Prefecture handled the case of the pawnbrokers, and only investigated and dealt with those small pawnbrokers that committed fraud, while leaving Anju Property Agency out of the matter.

Chu Xiuning looked solemn and said that this matter was of great importance and she would find an opportunity to discuss it with He Shan after she returned.

Since Chu Xin had found his aunt, Zhu Lan also found out that the woman was the later Concubine Lan. After dinner, Zhu Lan said goodbye to the two of them and planned to go home.

She walked down the street, replaying the conversation she had just had with Chu Xiuning in her mind, and figured out two things.

Firstly, since King Qi was behind Anju Real Estate Company, it was difficult to tell whether the 10,000 taels of silver were going to be used by Boss Ning or by King Qi.

He Hong was very likely aware of the relationship between Anju Real Estate Company and Prince Qi, which was why he tried his best to promote this deal in order to climb on the Third Prince's boat.

Second, Chu Xiuning did not tell the whole truth about leaving the palace.

Pure lies are not difficult to expose, but half-truths are the most misleading.

Perhaps Chu Xiuning did have a close relationship with He Shan, the owner of Tongyun Money House, and had been taking care of him after leaving the palace.

But this was definitely not the real reason why she left the palace.

She was the head of the Shangfu Bureau, a female official in the harem, not an ordinary maid who was expelled from the palace. What kind of trouble could she cause by walking on the street openly?

She tried every possible means to hide her identity, and even the bank's manager Yi didn't know her real name. It seemed more like she was avoiding something.

What Chu Xiuning was avoiding was the real reason why she left the palace.

Yan Yuze is also looking for Chu Xiuning. Could it be for the same thing?